Janitor finds gun inside backpack at Olathe Northwest H.S.

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OLATHE, Kan. -- Olathe Northwest High School, 21300 College Blvd, was placed on lockdown Thursday afternoon due to reports that a student had a gun in the school.

Police say a janitor found a backpack that had a gun inside of it. The school was put on lockdown as authorities began searching for the student. Sources tell FOX 4 that the student was seen on surveillance leaving the school at about 2:30 p.m. Police say there was an I.D. inside the backpack, so they knew whom they were looking for.

All students were in their last hour of class and about ready for dismissal, but dismissal was delayed. At about 4:05 p.m., the lockdown was lifted.

An Olathe Public School's spokesperson told FOX 4 during the lockdown that they were looking for the owner of the backpack, and holding all students in classrooms until police deemed it safe to leave.

"We see it too much. It's happening way too much. In our society. It's so scary," said Brandy Sosa, an Olathe Northwest parent. "It's really scary to be told not to park in front of your...that you can't come to your kids parking lot you have to park across the street. It's unnerving."

While the school has been given the all-clear, parents and the community are anxious for police to find the student.

FOX 4 will continue to follow this story and the investigation into the gun. Look for more on newscasts and fox4kc.com and the fox4kc app.

From the Olathe Police Department:

The school has been put on a restricted instruction status. We are investigating the report of a possible handgun located in the school. I will have more information later as it becomes available.